nag

¹

[nag]

verb (used with object)

nagged, nagging 

1. to annoy by persistent faultfinding, complaints, or demands.

   Synonyms: vex, irritate, hector, harass, pester

2. to keep in a state of troubled awareness or anxiety, as a recurrent pain or problem.

   She had certain misgivings that nagged her.

verb (used without object)

nagged, nagging 

1. to find fault or complain in an irritating, wearisome, or relentless manner (often followed byat ).

   If they start nagging at each other, I'm going home.

2. to cause pain, discomfort, distress, depression, etc. (often followed byat ).

   This headache has been nagging at me all day.

noun

1. Also a person who nags, especially habitually.

2. an act or instance of nagging.

   His constant nagging finally got the best of me and I lost my temper.

nag

²

[nag]

noun

1. an old, inferior, or worthless horse.

2. Slang.,  any horse, especially a racehorse.

3. a small riding horse or pony.

nag

¹

/ næɡ /

verb

1. to scold or annoy constantly

2. to be a constant source of discomfort or worry (to)

   toothache nagged him all day

noun

1. a person, esp a woman, who nags

nag

²

/ næɡ /

noun

1. derogatory,  a horse

2. a small riding horse

Other Word Forms

• unnagged adjective
• nagger noun
• naggingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nag¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from Old Norse nagga “to rub, grumble, quarrel”; akin to Middle Low German naggen “to irritate”; gnaw

Origin of nag²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nag(ge); connected with Dutch neg(ge) “small horse,” of obscure origin; said to be akin to neigh

Word History and Origins

Origin of nag¹

C19: of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish nagga to _gnaw , irritate, German nagen

Origin of nag²

C14: of Germanic origin; related to _neigh

Example Sentences

The actor said she was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year after consulting a doctor about a nagging feeling that something “wasn’t quite right” with her body.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If not for that nagging fear of being spotted, it would have been a very pleasant hike.

Read more on Literature

Investors who love high-yield dividend stocks have to cope with a nagging fear: What if the dividend gets cut?

Read more on Barron's

The high-profile layoff announcements reflect both the embrace of artificial intelligence and nagging concerns that companies overstaffed or overpaid hires as they scrambled to reopen from the pandemic four years ago.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The offensive line is still dealing with nagging injuries.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoy 
• badger 
• berate 
• fuss 
• hector 
• hound 
• irk 
• irritate 
• pester 
• scold 
• tease 
• torment 
• vex